Completed Event: Football versus Weber State on August 30, 2025 , Win , 45, to, 10
FB
Final
James Madison
45
vs Weber State
10
James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
Football
Thweatt, Byron
Byron Thweatt
- Title:
- Inside Linebackers
- Email:
- thweatbd@jmu.edu
- Phone:
- 540-568-6517
- Physical Address:
- Plecker APC 204 (220 Champions Dr.) / MSC 2201
Byron Thweatt was hired at James Madison University in January 2016 as an assistant coach working with the inside linebackers.
In his two years with the program, Thweatt was part of a defensive staff that helped return the Dukes to defensive prominence. JMU led the country in 2017 in scoring defense (11.1), interceptions (31), takeaways (44) and pass efficiency defense (83.12 rating).
The Dukes also ranked third in total defense (252.0), turnover margin (+1.47) and defensive touchdowns (5), fifth in sacks (3.40), seventh in rushing defense (90.5), eighth in fumble recoveries (13) and 10th in both passing defense (161.5) and 10th on third-down defense (30.1%).
Thweatt coached two linebackers to all-conference honors and one to All-America accolades in 2017. Kyre Hawkins was voted First Team All-CAA and later earned Third Team All-America laurels from HERO Sports. Brandon Hereford also made the All-CAA Third Team. Hawkins and Hereford were two of the team’s top-five tacklers, as Hawkins led the team with 111 stops, 14.0 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks. In just 11 games of the team’s 15, Hereford was fifth with 65 tackles and 4.0 sacks.
His group accounted for one interception, which was returned for a touchdown by Hereford. They also tallied five of JMU’s 13 fumble recoveries.
In his first season with the Dukes, he was part of the start of JMU’s defensive turnaround, in which they ranked 17th in scoring defense (21.2) and 30th in total defense (344.3). JMU was eighth best in turnover margin (+1.13) and 26th in third-down defense (34.1), resulting in the team conceding nearly 60 yards less per game.
His inside-linebacker corps was led by Second Team All-CAA standout Gage Steele, who led the team with 104 total tackles. Steele was also fourth in tackles for loss (6.5) and sacks (2.5). The unit also consisted of Brandon Hereford, who was second in tackles (96), and Dimitri Holloway, who was sixth in total stops (53). The group accounted for two interceptions, one of which occurred in JMU’s FCS playoffs win over New Hampshire in the second round.
Thweatt came to Harrisonburg from Virginia State, where he spent the 2015 season as head coach at the NCAA Division II program.
He led the Trojans to a 6-4 record and a third-place finish in the CIAA Northern Division in his lone season with the team. VSU ranked seventh in Division II in blocked kicks (8) and 25th in defensive touchdowns (3). The defense was seventh nationally in rushing defense (90.8) and 19th in scoring defense (18.9), while also ranking 12th in red zone defense (.652) and 27th in interceptions (8).
Thweatt coached two freshmen to the CIAA All-Rookie Team in running back Stephen Mines and linebacker Malik Sexton.
Prior to VSU, Thweatt spent eight seasons at Richmond (2007-14), where he coached the inside linebackers and added additional duties as Director of High School Relations for the last two years. During his time with the linebackers, the Spiders had eight All-CAA recognitions from the linebacker corps.
He coached Eric Wright to three All-CAA accolades and both Aaron Roane and Darius McMillan to two apiece. Thweatt also spent the 2010 season working as position coach for four-time All-CAA honoree Eric McBride, who was named CAA co-Defensive Player of the Year that season.
He also served roles as recruiting coordinator, tight ends coach, defensive tackles coach and a defensive assistant with the Spiders. Thweatt joined Richmond after a one-year stint as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Virginia.
Thweatt was a two-year captain for the Cavaliers and started 47 games in his collegiate career (1996-00), a school record for most starts by linebacker. As a senior, the linebacker was a Football News Honorable Mention All-American and was a finalist for the Bill Dudley Award after recording 125 tackles, tied for the sixth-highest total in UVa single-season history.
Thweatt was a four-time All-ACC selection, as he was named to the Second Team as a junior and senior while holding Honorable Mention status as a freshman and sophomore. His 387 career tackles ranks third all-time for the Cavaliers.
After college, Thweatt spent time in the National Football League with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tennessee Titans and in NFL Europe.
Thweatt and his wife, Mieya, have three daughters, Brianna, Bryce and Bralyn.
In his two years with the program, Thweatt was part of a defensive staff that helped return the Dukes to defensive prominence. JMU led the country in 2017 in scoring defense (11.1), interceptions (31), takeaways (44) and pass efficiency defense (83.12 rating).
The Dukes also ranked third in total defense (252.0), turnover margin (+1.47) and defensive touchdowns (5), fifth in sacks (3.40), seventh in rushing defense (90.5), eighth in fumble recoveries (13) and 10th in both passing defense (161.5) and 10th on third-down defense (30.1%).
Thweatt coached two linebackers to all-conference honors and one to All-America accolades in 2017. Kyre Hawkins was voted First Team All-CAA and later earned Third Team All-America laurels from HERO Sports. Brandon Hereford also made the All-CAA Third Team. Hawkins and Hereford were two of the team’s top-five tacklers, as Hawkins led the team with 111 stops, 14.0 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks. In just 11 games of the team’s 15, Hereford was fifth with 65 tackles and 4.0 sacks.
His group accounted for one interception, which was returned for a touchdown by Hereford. They also tallied five of JMU’s 13 fumble recoveries.
In his first season with the Dukes, he was part of the start of JMU’s defensive turnaround, in which they ranked 17th in scoring defense (21.2) and 30th in total defense (344.3). JMU was eighth best in turnover margin (+1.13) and 26th in third-down defense (34.1), resulting in the team conceding nearly 60 yards less per game.
His inside-linebacker corps was led by Second Team All-CAA standout Gage Steele, who led the team with 104 total tackles. Steele was also fourth in tackles for loss (6.5) and sacks (2.5). The unit also consisted of Brandon Hereford, who was second in tackles (96), and Dimitri Holloway, who was sixth in total stops (53). The group accounted for two interceptions, one of which occurred in JMU’s FCS playoffs win over New Hampshire in the second round.
Thweatt came to Harrisonburg from Virginia State, where he spent the 2015 season as head coach at the NCAA Division II program.
He led the Trojans to a 6-4 record and a third-place finish in the CIAA Northern Division in his lone season with the team. VSU ranked seventh in Division II in blocked kicks (8) and 25th in defensive touchdowns (3). The defense was seventh nationally in rushing defense (90.8) and 19th in scoring defense (18.9), while also ranking 12th in red zone defense (.652) and 27th in interceptions (8).
Thweatt coached two freshmen to the CIAA All-Rookie Team in running back Stephen Mines and linebacker Malik Sexton.
Prior to VSU, Thweatt spent eight seasons at Richmond (2007-14), where he coached the inside linebackers and added additional duties as Director of High School Relations for the last two years. During his time with the linebackers, the Spiders had eight All-CAA recognitions from the linebacker corps.
He coached Eric Wright to three All-CAA accolades and both Aaron Roane and Darius McMillan to two apiece. Thweatt also spent the 2010 season working as position coach for four-time All-CAA honoree Eric McBride, who was named CAA co-Defensive Player of the Year that season.
He also served roles as recruiting coordinator, tight ends coach, defensive tackles coach and a defensive assistant with the Spiders. Thweatt joined Richmond after a one-year stint as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Virginia.
Thweatt was a two-year captain for the Cavaliers and started 47 games in his collegiate career (1996-00), a school record for most starts by linebacker. As a senior, the linebacker was a Football News Honorable Mention All-American and was a finalist for the Bill Dudley Award after recording 125 tackles, tied for the sixth-highest total in UVa single-season history.
Thweatt was a four-time All-ACC selection, as he was named to the Second Team as a junior and senior while holding Honorable Mention status as a freshman and sophomore. His 387 career tackles ranks third all-time for the Cavaliers.
After college, Thweatt spent time in the National Football League with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tennessee Titans and in NFL Europe.
Thweatt and his wife, Mieya, have three daughters, Brianna, Bryce and Bralyn.
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